Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, who was fired earlier today, released a statement regarding his departure (h/t Priority Sports). “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as the Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers,” Blatt wrote. “I’d like to thank [team owner] Dan Gilbert and [GM] David Griffin for giving me this opportunity and am honored to have worked with an amazing group of players from LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love through our entire roster. I’d also like to express my extreme gratitude to my coaching staff. I am indebted to them for their professionalism, hard work, loyalty and friendship. I am proud of what we have accomplished since I have been the Head Coach and wish the Cavaliers nothing but the best this season and beyond.”

Here’s more from Cleveland amid a day of big changes:

Griffin denied that the team gave Tyronn Lue a contract extension but noted that Lue was named head coach without the interim title, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com relays (via Twitter). Griffin made his remarks during a press conference to announce the team’s coaching change. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports heard from league sources that Lue was given a new three-year deal worth approximately $9.5MM (Twitter link).

The Cavs’ players were taken completely by surprise by Blatt’s firing, and when a team meeting was called to announce the move many of them thought it was because Love had been traded, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com relays (on Twitter).

There may be some players on the team who aren’t happy about the decision to part ways with Blatt, but Griffin said it was a move they would have to respect regardless of their feelings, Sam Amico of Amico Hoops tweets.

The franchise was concerned that Blatt was reluctant to consistently challenge LeBron, who is a coachable player whose respect must first be earned, Sam Amick of USA Today tweets.

2 thoughts on “Cavs Notes: Blatt, Lue, Love”

So the reason people don’t like kevin love is cuz he’s trash on defense and doesn’t show up for big games. He’s also about as athletic as ur mom. Him and kyrie are statistically the worst pick and roll defensive duo in the ENTIRE league. Thad young meanwhile is both atletic and great on d with a little jumper as well. Teletovic and leur are both really really good 3 point shooting big men for lebron and kyrie off pick and pops as well as kick outs . Chandler adds another championship experienced pick and roll lob threat and the suns don’t even use him right. There were reports that the guys in the cavs locker room want keef cuz they think he’ll be good for them with a little veteran help. He also is athletic and can shoot 3s. Now for the nets. The nets suck,but this years draft picks and next years draft picks are both going to the celtics.(cuz they were stupid enough to trade them all)So instead of tanking, they should try to be competitive and getting a big name like love helps attract potential free agents along with the fact that it’s Brooklyn New York. Lastly for the suns, this trade gets rid of keef who is bad for the locker room, gets rid of chandler who’s been a bust for them cuz try don’t use him right, and thus frees up TOOONS of cap space for this summer and next( keep in mind lamarcusAldridge’s top two were the suns and the spurs so the suns are a real destination, plus ) seeing as how joe Johnson is on an expiring contract. Also they do poorly to finish the year to ensure a top draft pick and get young talent in Robinson an mccollugh who could be a beast he’s been hurt so far this year. Thus they get to rebuild through the draft as well as be players in free agency, with guys like knight and Bledsoe to attract free agents

Morris and Thad can play the 3. So can teletovic for stretches. The cavs still have 3 point guards(delly kyrie and mo williams) and 3 shooting guards( j.r. Iman and James jones) also they’re giving up 3 bigs kevin varejao and Mozgov. Also the main reason they’d do it is cuz to beat the spurs and warriors u have to be able to play lockdown defense. Kyrie is already pretty bad and love is even worse. He has terrible footwork and has no clue when to help, or hedge, or ice. And he doesn’t even make up for it on offense cuz instead of posting him up (which he’s pretty good at) the cavs just have him stand on the perimeter. They’re 0-1 against the spurs this year and 0-2 against the warriors. Against the warriors once they were down 43 points!! They can either sit in their hands and wait for the finals loss to come or they can make a move to add defense an athleticism they need